KSEB plans thermal fuel surcharge

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) is eyeing thermal fuel surcharge to recover the additional sum it spent on buying power from outside during January-March 2011.According to a petition filed by the KSEB before the State Electricity Regulatory Commission, the power utility had purchased extra power worth Rs 115.76 crore during this period to meet the demand.The additional cost has been fixed at Rs 107.54 crore, the amount permissible as per the Commission's regulations. The Commission will decide on the matter after holding a public hearing in its office at Vellayambalam here on June 22.Though the quantity approved for purchase during the three months was 2,025.22 million units, KSEB had purchased 1,827.17 MU. The admissible volume is 1,683.02 MU. But variation in fuel prices had led to additional liability to the power utility, says the KSEB.''There was considerable increase in the variable cost of (power) generation from liquid fuel stations RGCCPP-Kayamkulam, BSES-Kochi, KPCL, BDPP and KDPP. Further, there was substantial increase in the variable cost on the NTPC's coalbased plants Ramagundam STPS and Talcher-II and NLC's Stage II Expansion,'' the KSEB said.For example, the per kWh cost approved by the Regulatory Commission for purchasing power from the RGCCPPKayamkulam for the period is Rs 7.34 per kWh. Due to variation in fuel prices, the price had shot up to Rs 8.75 per kWh leading to the KSEB paying RGCCPPKayamkulam an additional Rs 37.82 crore during January-March, 2011.Those who wish to participate in the public hearing can submit their petitions to the Secretary, Kerala State Electricity Regulatory Commission, Vellayambalam, Thiruvananthapuram, by June 17.